Texans quarterbacks get much more than a passing grade

More evidence of the terrific job the Texans did this season can be found in a couple of interesting statistics.

For instance, 11 teams had three quarterbacks complete at least one pass this season, and only one, the Texans, made the playoffs.

Of those 11 teams, the Texans were the only one that had four quarterbacks complete at least one pass.

T.J. Yates became just the second rookie middle-round pick in NFL history to begin the season third-string and be forced into the lineup because of injuries and lead his team to a playoff victory — the 31-10 wild-card conquest of Cincinnati at Reliant Stadium.

If the Texans had upset Baltimore in the divisional game, Yates would have become the first in history to win two playoff games.

The coaches — Gary Kubiak, offensive coordinator Rick Dennison and quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp — did a terrific job with the quarterbacks, where stability is supposed to be essential to winning.
Of the four quarterbacks who remain in the playoffs, Eli Manning threw all 589 passes for the New York Giants this season. Alex Smith threw 446 of San Francisco’s 452 passes, New England’s Tom Brady 611 of 612 and Baltimore’s Joe Flacco 542 of 544.

Matt Schaub threw 292 of the Texans’ 467 passes before suffering a season-ending foot injury when they were 7-3.

Imagine what the Texans’ record might have been or how far they might have advanced in the playoffs if they were as fortunate as the Giants, 49ers, Patriots and Ravens at the most important position on the team.

After Schaub was injured, Matt Leinart replaced him and suffered a broken collarbone in the first half of his first game. Yates replaced Leinart and went to the bench for all but one series of the last regular-season game after suffering a separated left shoulder. Jake Delhomme replaced him.

‘An outstanding job’

“The coaches did an outstanding job,” Schaub said. “With all the adversity we had with injuries and things that took place, to be able to put together plans to attack opposing defenses with the weapons we had was outstanding.

“It really goes unnoticed a lot of the times the job that coaches do with type of defenses we were facing and getting guys ready to play. They did a phenomenal job.”

Schaub said he will be ready for OTAs in May. If he stays healthy, many will consider the Texans as a Super Bowl contender.

“It’s tough because I know what we’re capable of as a team, and to not reach those goals is hard,” Schaub said. “We have the right pieces here, and we’re going to be right in this position for many years.”

Fans and players are interested to see the pecking order of the quarterbacks going into camp. In other words, will Leinart or Yates be Schaub’s backup?

Kubiak isn’t saying anything about the order of quarterbacks other than Schaub will be the starter. Based on what he accomplished in two victories over the Bengals and one over Atlanta, it makes sense that Yates will be the backup. If that’s the case, Leinart could ask for his release rather than be third-string for the second time in three seasons.

Delhomme and Jeff Garcia, signed because of the injuries, won’t return.

“It was a wild season,” Yates said. “Those first 10 weeks I didn’t have a jersey on, and things happened pretty quick. It was unfortunate circumstances, (but) in this league, you have to be ready to play at a moment’s notice.”

“I had people around me who helped,” Yates said about Knapp and Dennison. “Those first 10 weeks that I wasn’t playing, I was being quizzed and pushed just as much as the guys on the field.
“Credit to them (Knapp and Dennison) for helping me get ready mentally, knowing that I wasn’t getting the reps physically.”

Yates still learning

Kubiak had a long talk with Yates after the Baltimore loss.

“He was proud of me, the way I stepped in and played,” Yates said. “He knows that I have a lot of learning to do and a lot of room to grow. He knows I still have a lot of work to do.

“I’m trying to look at the whole season and try to learn everything I can from it, how I carried myself, how I played out in the field and just try to get better from it.

“I learned a lot about carrying myself as a player in this league, a lot about in-game situations and how to deal with the defenses I’m seeing and winning and losing. It was very special.”

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John McClain ranked the top 50 Texans in terms of their value to the organization following last season. Mario Williams left that organization as a free agent and signed with the Buffalo Bills. McClain, though, did not rank Williams as high as many might think. less

John McClain ranked the top 50 Texans in terms of their value to the organization following last season. Mario Williams left that organization as a free agent and signed with the Buffalo Bills. McClain, ... more

Photo: AP

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The ranking is not only about who’s best, but who’s the most valuable, including the importance of his position within the team’s offensive and defensive schemes. For instance, if the defense still played a 4-3, DeMeco Ryans would play middle linebacker and rank in the top 10. But they play a 3-4, and his position doesn’t spend much time on the field because he’s usually replaced on passing downs by a cornerback. less

The ranking is not only about who’s best, but who’s the most valuable, including the importance of his position within the team’s offensive and defensive schemes. For instance, if the defense still ... more